Southeast & Deep East Texas

Welcome to the American Red Cross of Southeast & Deep East Texas

The American Red Cross of Southeast and Deep East Texas has been serving the community since 1917. Its history is replete with examples of everyday people doing extraordinary deeds to alleviate human suffering.

Today, the American Red Cross of Southeast and Deep East Texas serves Angelina, Hardin, Jasper, Jefferson, Nacogdoches, Newton, Orange, Sabine, San Augustine, Shelby and Tyler counties with services including disaster relief, CPR training and assistance to military personnel, veterans and their families.

Click below to learn more about us:

Chapter Leadership

Chester R. Jourdan, Jr., Executive Director

Chester serves as the Executive Director of the Beaumont and Orange County Chapters of the American Red Cross. Previously, Chester was Executive Director, South East Texas Nonprofit Development Center in Beaumont, Texas. He served as the Executive Director of the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission in Columbus, Ohio. Chester also served as Executive Director of the South East Texas Regional Planning Commission in Beaumont that addressed regional initiatives by promoting collaboration and cooperation with government and private sector interests. He was also engaged in the relief efforts for 27,000 Hurricane Katrina evacuees and helped lead efforts in the evacuation, relief, recovery and rebuilding in the aftermath of Hurricane Rita. After he and his family relocated to Columbus, Ohio he returned to Southeast Texas to volunteer for two weeks in the aftermath of Hurricane Ike. Chester has also worked for the United States Department of Transportation in Washington, D.C., A tlanta, GA and Fort Worth, TX. He earned a Masters in Urban and Regional Affairs from the University of Texas at Arlington and a Bachelor of Science in political science at Stephen F. Austin State University. He was a member of the U.S. Army serving with the 82nd Airborne Division and the 101st Airborne Division, respectively. While serving in the Middle East he was notified by the American Red Cross about the birth of his daughter. Chester resides in Port Neches, Texas is married with two children and two grandchildren. The oldest daughter is a school teacher in the Port Neches Groves Independent School District. The youngest is a student at Port Neches Groves High School.

Regional Leadership

Debra Murphy-Luera, Regional Chief Operating Officer

Debra has served in a variety of capacities within the American Red Cross for over 15 years. Prior to being appointed Chief Administrative Officer, Debra served as Interim Regional Chapter Executive, Regional Support Manager of the Corpus Christi Region; Chapter Solutions Manager for the Southwest Service Area and Executive Director of the Webb County Chapter. Prior to her service with the American Red Cross, Debra spent over twenty years in the broadcasting industry. Debra earned her Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Kennedy Western University. A native of Wyoming, Debra currently resides in Corpus Christi, Texas is married with three step-children and four step-grandchildren.